20 August 2008
editorial
In Beijing, China, last week, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) finally bowed to popular opinion by stripping the United States of America(USA) of the Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medal in 4x400 metres relay and awarding same to Nigeria.
The Nigerian quartet of Clement Chukwu, Jude Monye, Sunday Bada and Enefiok Udo-Obong had clocked an impressive 2:58:68 seconds to place second in a close contest that kept spectators at the Sydney Olympic Stadium on the edge of their seats. Jamaica and the Bahamas placed third and fourth, respectively.
The spirited showing of the relay team was one of the very few performances that elicited celebrations in a generally disappointing campaign by Nigeria. Indeed, many Nigerians felt that with some luck and given the discipline exhibited by the quartet, the team coached by former quarter-miler Innocent Egbunike could have beaten the Americans.
But reports later emerged that a member of the gold winning USA team had earlier spiked his system with performance enhancing drugs. On July 18, 2004, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruled that Jerome Young was ineligible to compete in Sydney and voided all his past results, including those achieved as part of relay teams. The athlete had competed for the USA in the heats and semi-final of the 4x400 metres relay.
Not surprisingly, however, United States' athletics officials who have gained worldwide notoriety for shielding their athletes from reprimand, even in the face of incontrovertible evidence, appealed the IAAF decision. On July 22, 2005, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned the decision of the athletics' world governing body and restored the original finish order of the relay.
Nevertheless, the Nigerian sports authorities were unrelenting in their quest for the gold medal which they insisted and justifiably so, belonged to Nigeria. As fate would have it, in June this year, Antonio Pettigrew, a member of the USA 4x400 metres relay team, admitted in court that he cheated to win by using banned performance enhancing substances, and agreed to return his own medal.
Given this scenario, the IOC was forced to withdraw the relay gold. It was the sixth American medal from the Sydney Games lost to doping in the past eight months after sprinter Marion Jones was stripped of her five medals due to doping. Pettigrew's admission also led to US Olympic champion Michael Johnson- a member of the team - to say he was returning his medal after he felt he had not won it legitimately.
Nigeria's triumph is yet another manifestation of the age-long saying that no matter how long, truth will surely triumph over falsehood. Although, it took almost a decade for the injustice done her to be redressed, the award of the gold medal is a landmark in the country's sports. Beside being Nigeria's third in Olympic history, it is also the country's first ever in the relays.
We commend the relay team which also included the duo of Nduka Awazie and Fidelis Gadzama for its selfless sacrifice in taking Nigeria to the zenith of world athletics. That the team stuck to the cardinal Olympic principle of fair competition, makes the feat all the move ennobling.
In an age when the use of performance enhancing drugs has become commonplace, the honesty, hardwork and high sense of professionalism demonstrated by the Nigerian team in its quest for glory, will no doubt remain a reference point for true lovers of sports and indeed, future generations. It is noteworthy that no member of the team has been found wanting, even in retirement.
For Egbunike, who had led Nigeria to win bronze in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, and is currently coach of the Nigerian athletics team at Beijing 2008, it is yet another feather to his cap. Even as we join millions of Nigerians in awaiting the actual presentation of the medal, it is a thing of joy that the key actors involved are still alive to savour the historic moment.
The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) also deserve a pat on the back for their crucial roles in ensuring that justice was not denied Nigeria. Not to be overlooked is the bold decision of the IOC to come down hard on the USA, a major athletics power house.
While we acknowledge that due process must be followed in cases involving doping, it is our hope that the almost unbearable delay witnessed in Nigeria's case should be a thing of the past. We urge the IOC, IAAF and sporting bodies the world over to redouble their efforts in the fight to rid sports of doping and other unwholesome practices.
The IOC must also consider compensating the Nigerian relay team, given losses it suffered following the dubious win by the Americans.
Members of the relay team deserve to be treated as the true heroes they are. They should also be rewarded by the Federal Government in line with their status as gold medalists.
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